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CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE: PRESENT AND FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE
(Versión en Español)
Conservation agriculture consists of different agronomic practices permitting an
agricultural soil management which alters its composition, structure and
biodiversity as little as possible, and also prevents its erosion and
degradation. Conservation agriculture techniques include diverse modalities
such as direct drilling (no tillage), minimal tillage (reduced tillage, which
does not incorporate, or only in very brief periods, harvest residues), and the
establishment of vegetation covers between successive annual crops or between
rows of trees in plantations of woody crops. In general terms, with conservation
techniques, the soil is protected from erosion and runoff, the natural formation
of soil aggregates, organic matter and fertilility is increased and, in turn,
its compactification due to the transit of agricultural machinery is reduced.
Also, there is a lesser pollution of surface waters, CO2 emissions
into the atmosphere are reduced and the biodiversity is increased.
All these social environmental benefits are accompanied by some no less
important economic benefits for farmers, whose production costs are considerably
reduced.
JUSTIFICATION OF THE CONGRESS
Spanish
farmers, and those in the rest of Europe, have to reduce their production
costs at the same time as maintaining their crop yields and natural
resources. The present agricultural scenario, in which the new Common
Agrarian Policy (CAP) conditions the payment of aids to the carrying out
of good agrarian and environmental practices, where the use of
conservation agriculture techniques is recognized as being positive (Royal
Decree 2352/2004 of 24 December), and with the publication of the
European Commission document: "Towards a thematic strategy for soil
protection" (COM(2002) 179 final), mean that conservation agriculture
will have an important role in the agroenvironmental scene of future
years.
The
increase in the hectares under conservation agriculture in Spain is an
indication of the interest of the agrarian sector, with a recent boost at
the II Latin-American Meeting of Conservation Agriculture, held last
September in Albacete, with the attendance of two thousand technicians and
farmers.
An updated
work of dissemination for farmers, technical professionals, consultants and
administrators is required for them to be aware and informed about the
present state of the development of these techniques.
LANGUAGES
Spanish
and English are the official languages for the Congress.
The
oral presentations can be given in Spanish or in English and will be
translated simultaneously into English or Spanish, as the case may be.
All the
written contributions, such as abstracts, articles and posters, from
participants can be sent in English or Spanish.
CONGRESS PUBLICATIONS
The
written material stemming from the Congress will be supplied in the official
languages.
The
documentation published as a result of the holding of the Congress will
include:
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The
Congress Proceedings in a computer medium.
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Guide
of Day in the Field. |
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OBJECTIVE
The
Congress aims to encourage an exchange of experiences between farmers and
technicians, presenting technological and scientific advances of great
interest to the sector. |
THE CONGRESS AUDIENCE
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Farmers, agricultural union organizations
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Technicians, consultants and scientists: agronomists and environment
experts.
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Administration representatives, legislators |
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OrgaNIZATION EntitiES
Spanish Conservation Agriculture
Association / Living Soils
(AEAC/SV)
European
Conservation Agriculture Federation
(ECAF)
Andalusian Institute for Agrarian, Fishering and
Food Research and Training and for Ecological Production
(IFAPA)
(Junta de
Andalucía, Andalusian Regional Government).
University
of Cordoba
(UCO)
Institute for Energy
Diversification and Saving
(IDAE).
Ministry
of Industry,
Tourism and Commerce.
COLLABORATION ENTITIES
Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food (MAPA)
Council for
Agriculture and Fisheries
of
Andalusian Regional Government (www.juntadeandalucia.es/agriculturaypesca)
Cordoba County Council
(www.dipucordoba.es)
Town Council of Córdoba
(www.ayuncordoba.es)
Consorcio Turismo de
Córdoba (www.turismodecordoba.org)
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DATES AND VENUE OF CONGRESS
From 9 to
11 November, 2005, in the Main Lecture Hall (Aula Magna) at the University
Campus
of Rabanales, University of Córdoba. |
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The Congress is structured in two clearly differentiated parts. The
first, to be held exclusively in the University Campus of Rabanales
belonging to the University of Córdoba, on 9th and 10th November, 2005,
and the second, a Day in the Field, with a demonstration of machinery and
equipment on a farm where there are representative examples of
conservation agriculture, on 11th November, 2005.
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In the first part, the scientific contents of the Congress will revolve
around: |
Subject areas:
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The lectures and oral presentations selected by the Congress Organizers will
be grouped according to the similarity of their subjects. In this Congress,
six subject areas can be distinguished: one referring to the new legislative
framework in which conservation agriculture is included; two sessions
focussing on its different agronomic aspects; one session devoted to
mechanization, as well as technological advances and novelties in the
market; a session on the economic aspects of conservation agriculture and a
last session in which assays of new conservation techniques and the
experiences of farmers in various countries will be discussed. |
Lectures:
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Talks by well-known experts on different subjects of interest, related to
the Subject Area in which they are included, as proposed by the Congress
Organizers. |
Oral contributions:
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Scientific works related to the general subject matter of the Congress
submitted by researchers in those topics. Those oral contributions selected
by the Congress Organizers will be included in the Congress programme and
published in the Congress Proceedings.
The specifications for the presentation of these works are available on the
site devoted to the Congress on the Association’s web page
(instructions
for authors ) |
Posters:
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Graphic presentations on a scientific work. These will be displayed in a
room especially prepared for them and can be visited throughout the duration
of the Congress.
They should be 1,200 mm high and 1,000 mm wide. The text should be easily
legible at a distance of 2 m.
They should include:
Títle of work
Name of the Congress
Name and surnames of authors
Postal and electronic addresses of the authors
Name of institution to which they belong
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On the Field Day, equipment and specialized machinery and
other inputs required for crop production will be shown in situ. In
addition, some aspects associated with the saving of energy fostered by
practising specific Conservation Agriculture techniques will be
demonstrated.
To make the pedagogical process easier, the participants will be split up
into several groups, rotating them, with the aim of facilitating the pace
needed for the subjects chosen, permitting a more direct contact and an
active participation.
The stopping points will be distributed in different areas of the farm, so
that their contents can be developed without any interference and
permitting the groups to be rotated without having to walk any great
distance. |
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Where can I stay?:
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The organization has ensured that there will be a sufficient number of rooms
in hotels with different categories available for the Congress
participants. To find out all about them and their prices, as well as to
make any reservation there is a form for this purpose on the web site of the
Congress on the Association page (download
form), which, once filled in, can be sent to the address at the
bottom.
For any additional information about the hotels or the reservations, please
contact Proyectos, Incentivos y congresos S.L. (PIC) through its web page (www.proyectosycongresos.com)
or by telephone: +34 957 485 848 |
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